Photo Gallery

Heian Jingū Shrine- 平安神宮 (built 1896)

The transfer of the national capital from Kyoto to Tokyo haunted the city's residents, who feared the Old Capital would become little more than a museum. As Japan industrialized in the late 19th century after contact with the West, Kyoto began to transform herself into a new city embracing modernization in a conscious effort to mature beyond tradition. It was with renewed optimism that the city approached its 1100th anniversary in 1896. To honor the city's founder, Emperor Kammu, a shrine was built in the eastern foothills of the city. The Heian Shrine, as it became known, celebrates the culture and architecture of the city's Heian-era past.

The Heian Shrine is a 2/3 scale recreation of the Heian Hall of State, built on the site of the original. The imperfect knowledge of 19th century Japanese historians limited the accuracy of their undertaking, but the buildings are roughly correct in proportion if not in detail. The designers subverted the solemnity of the "shrine" by turning the pond portion into public park. Today's Heian shrine bears little resemblance to its model, but like the city herself, the adaptation of the past to the modern age has proven immensely successful.

Anyone who loves gardens will adore Heian Shrine, especially in the rain--for Japanese gardens are most beautiful in the rain. Unlike many Japanese gardens the plantings are designed to hold the eye more than the architecture. The architectural elements, like the stepping stones and the covered bridge, merely accentuate the natural experience.

Click on any of the red arrows to view that location.
Image adapted from entry ticket.

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